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The ATP-binding cassette transporter 1 (ABCA1) has recently been identified as a key regulator of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) metabolism, which is defective in familial HDL-deficiency syndromes such as Tangier disease. ABCA1 functions as a facilitator of cellular cholesterol and phospholipid efflux, and its expression is induced during cholesterol uptake in macrophages. To assess the role of macrophage ABCA1 in atherosclerosis, we generated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor knockout (LDLr −/− ) mice that are selectively deficient in leukocyte ABCA1 (ABCA1 −/− ) by using bone marrow transfer (ABCA1 −/− → LDLr −/− ). Here we demonstrate that ABCA1 −/− → LDLr −/− chimeras develop significantly larger and more advanced atherosclerotic lesions compared with chimeric LDLr −/− mice with functional ABCA1 in hematopoietic cells. Targeted disruption of leukocyte ABCA1 function did not affect plasma HDL cholesterol levels. The amount of macrophages in liver and spleen and peripheral blood leukocyte counts is increased in the ABCA1 −/− → LDLr −/− chimeras. Our results provide evidence that leukocyte ABCA1 plays a critical role in the protection against atherosclerosis, and we identify ABCA1 as a leukocyte factor that controls the recruitment of inflammatory cells.

We have investigated whether a raft heterogeneity exists in human monocyte-derived macrophages and fibroblasts and whether these microdomains are modulated by lipid efflux. Triton X-100 (Triton) or Lubrol WX (Lubrol) detergent-resistant membranes from cholesterol-loaded monocytes were associated with the following findings: (i) Lubrol-DRM contained most of the cellular cholesterol and at least 75% of Triton-detergent-resistant membranes. (ii) ‘Lubrol rafts’, defined by their solubility in Triton but insolubility in Lubrol, were enriched in unsaturated phosphatidylcholine and showed a lower cholesterol to choline-phospholipid ratio compared to Triton rafts. (iii) CD14 and CD55 were recovered in Triton- and Lubrol-detergent-resistant membranes, whereas CD11b was found exclusively in Triton DRM. ABCA1 implicated in apo AI-mediated lipid efflux and CDC42 were partially localized in Lubrol- but not in Triton-detergent-resistant membranes. (iv) Apo AI preferentially depleted cholesterol and choline-phospholipids from Lubrol rafts, whereas HDL3 additionally decreased the cholesterol content of Triton rafts. In fibroblasts, neither ABCA1 nor CDC42 was found in Lubrol rafts, and both apo AI and HDL3 reduced the lipid content in Lubrol- as well as in Triton-detergent-resistant membranes. In summary, we provide evidence for the existence of compositionally distinct membrane microdomains in human cells and their modulation by apo AI/ABCA1-dependent and HDL3-mediated lipid efflux.

Familial high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-deficiency syndromes are caused by mutations of the ABCA1 gene, coding for the ATP-binding cassette transporter 1. We have developed a homogeneous assay based on 52 primer sets to amplify all 50 ABCA1 exons and approximately 1 kb of its promoter. The assay allows for convenient amplification of the gene from genomic DNA and easy mutational analysis through automatic sequencing. It obviates the need to use mRNA preparations, which were difficult to handle and posed a risk to miss splice junction or promoter mutations. The application of the test to the molecular analysis of a new patient with familial HDL-deficiency (Tangier disease) led to a discovery of two novel ABCA1 mutations: C2665del and C4457T.

We have previously shown that plasma lipoproteins can be separated by analytical capillary isotachophoresis (ITP) according to their electrophoretic mobility in a defined buffer system. As in lipoprotein electrophoresis, HDL show the highest mobility followed by VLDL, IDL, and LDL. Chylomicrons migrate according to their net-charge between HDL and VLDL, because ITP has negligible molecular sieve effects. Three HDL subfractions were obtained which were designated fast-, intermediate-, and slow-migrating HDL. To further characterize these HDL subfractions, a newly developed free-solution ITP (FS-ITP)-system was used, that allows micro-preparative separation of human lipoproteins directly from whole plasma (Bottcher, A. et al. 1998. Electrophoresis. 19: 1110–1116). The fractions obtained by FS-ITP were analyzed for their lipid and apolipoprotein composition and by two-dimensional nondenaturing polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis (2D-GGE) with subsequent immunoblotting. fHDL are characterized by the highest proportion of esterified cholesterol of all three subfractions and are relatively enriched in LpA-I. Together with iHDL they contain the majority of plasma apoA-I, while sHDL contain the majority of plasma apoA-IV, apoD, apoE, and apoJ. Pre-β-HDL were found in separate fractions together with triglyceride-rich fractions between sHDL and LDL. In summary, ITP can separate the bulk of HDL into lipoprotein subfractions, which differ in apolipoprotein composition and electrophoretic mobility. While analytical ITP permits rapid separation and quantitation for diagnostic purposes, FS-ITP can be used to obtain these lipoprotein subfractions on a preparative scale for functional analysis. As FS-ITP is much better suited for preparative purposes than gel electrophoresis, it represents an important novel tool for the functional analysis of lipoprotein subclasses. —Bottcher, A., J. Schlosser, F. Kronenberg, H. Dieplinger, G. Knipping, K. J. Lackner, and G. Schmitz. Preparative free-solution isotachophoresis for separation of human plasma lipoproteins: apolipoprotein and lipid composition of HDL subfractions. J. Lipid Res. 2000. 41: 905–915.

Central aspects of the cellular lipid trafficking mechanisms that occur during keratinocyte differentiation are still not well understood. In the past years, evidence has accumulated to suggest that members of the superfamily of adenosine triphosphate binding cassette (ABC) transporters are critically involved in the transmembrane transport of cellular lipids. To test the hypothesis that ABC molecules are potentially involved in the epidermal transport of sphingolipids, glycerophospholipids, cholesterol, and fatty acids, we performed mRNA expression profiling of all currently known ABC molecules during in vitro differentiation of human keratinocytes and HaCaT cells. We identified six ABC molecules that displayed significant regulation during differentiation of these cells. The recently cloned transporter ABCA7 was highly expressed in keratinocytes and HaCaT cells and upregulated during differentiation. Overexpression of ABCA7 in HeLa cells resulted in increased expression of intracellular and cell surface ceramide and elevated intracellular phosphatidylserine levels. Given the observation that during terminal keratinocyte differentiation intracellular and surface ceramide levels are increased, our results render ABCA7 a candidate regulator of ceramide transport in this process. In addition to ABCA7, the cholesterol transporters ABCB1 and ABCG1 and the glutathione/glucuronide sulfate transporters ABCC1, ABCC3, and ABCC4, were strongly upregulated during keratinocyte and HaCaT cell differentiation. These findings support the notion that ABCB1 and ABCG1 are potentially implicated in cholesterol transport, whereas ABCC1, ABCC3, and ABCC4 are candidate regulators of the translocation of sulfated lipids during stratum corneum keratinization. Our results suggest specific biologic functions for members of the ABC transporter family in epidermal lipid reorganization during terminal keratinocyte differentiation.

We have investigated whether a raft heterogeneity exists in human monocyte-derived macrophages and fibroblasts and whether these microdomains are modulated by lipid efflux. Triton X-100 (Triton) or Lubrol WX (Lubrol) detergent-resistant membranes from cholesterol-loaded monocytes were associated with the following findings: (i) Lubrol-DRM contained most of the cellular cholesterol and at least 75% of Triton-detergent-resistant membranes. (ii) 'Lubrol rafts', defined by their solubility in Triton but insolubility in Lubrol, were enriched in unsaturated phosphatidylcholine and showed a lower cholesterol to choline-phospholipid ratio compared to Triton rafts. (iii) CD14 and CD55 were recovered in Triton- and Lubrol-detergent-resistant membranes, whereas CD11b was found exclusively in Triton DRM. ABCA1 implicated in apo AI-mediated lipid efflux and CDC42 were partially localized in Lubrol- but not in Triton-detergent-resistant membranes. (iv) Apo AI preferentially depleted cholesterol and choline-phospholipids from Lubrol rafts, whereas HDL3 additionally decreased the cholesterol content of Triton rafts. In fibroblasts, neither ABCA1 nor CDC42 was found in Lubrol rafts, and both apo AI and HDL3 reduced the lipid content in Lubrol- as well as in Triton-detergent-resistant membranes. In summary, we provide evidence for the existence of compositionally distinct membrane microdomains in human cells and their modulation by apo AI/ABCA1-dependent and HDL3-mediated lipid efflux.

An enzyme with acyl coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) activity was isolated from porcine liver, and sequences derived from trypsinized peptides indicated homology to liver carboxylesterase. By use of degenerate primers, human cDNA clones were identified, which were identical to human liver carboxylesterase. Expression of the full-length cDNA in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells led to an approximately threefold increase in cellular ACAT activity. This was accompanied by an approximately 20-fold increase of cellular cholesteryl ester content. By light and electron microscopy, recombinant CHO cells contained numerous lipid droplets that were not present in control CHO cells. Expression of an antisense cDNA in HepG2 cells reduced cellular ACAT activity by 35% compared with control. To further investigate the role of the enzyme in cellular cholesterol homeostasis, regulation of the mRNA was investigated in 7-day cultured human mononuclear phagocytes (MNPs). When these cells were incubated in lipoprotein-deficient serum for 18 hours, the mRNA for ACAT/carboxylesterase was almost not detectable on Northern blots, whereas after incubation with acetylated low-density lipoproteins, a strong hybridization signal was obtained. This is evidence that the mRNA of ACAT/carboxylesterase is induced by cholesterol loading. It is concluded from the data presented that ACAT/carboxylesterase is relevant for cellular cholesterol esterification in vivo. The regulation in MNPs indicates that the enzyme is also involved in foam cell formation during early atherogenesis.